New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday said it would hear on March 17 Atiq Ahmad's plea seeking protection and restraining orders on the Centre and Uttar Pradesh government from transferring him from Ahmedabad’s central jail to Prayagraj or any part of UP as he fears that he might be killed in a fake encounter.

Ahmad, a five-time Uttar Pradesh MLA, had approached the Supreme Court, against his transfer to any jail in UP jail from Gujarat where he has been kept in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case.

Advocate KS Hanif, appearing for Ahmad, requested the SC bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud that the UP Police should question him in Ahmedabad in view of his apprehensions that he will be killed in an "encounter".

If at all, he is shifted to UP, for questioning in the Umesh Pal murder case, it should be under the protection of central forces, Ahmad, in his plea said.